The unprecedented uprisings in the Middle East over the past year have drawn comparisons with a wide scope of revolts from the French Revolution to the fall of the Berlin Wall. This conference seeks to place the focus on a multi-disciplinary consideration of the local and regional sources and forces which have fuelled the uprisings, as well as the narratives of the events. In addition to an emphasis on dynamics within and interpretations of the uprisings, presenters are encouraged to reflect on what the events may mean for the study of the region.

The conference will also highlight the areas of research undertaken by the BRISMES research networks:

Clerical Authority in Shiite Islam

Critical Middle East Studies

Faith, Politics and Society

Liberation, Domination and Expression

Resistance, Representation and Identity

And an additional sub-theme organised by LLAS Centre for languages, linguistics and area studies with the sponsorship of the Higher Education Academy Islamic Studies Network:

Teaching and learning about Islam and Muslims in UK higher education

As in previous BRISMES conferences, panels on topics not covered by the overall theme or the research networks maybe also be proposed. Individual papers, however, will not be accepted unless they are relevant to the overall theme, relevant to the research network sessions, or integral to a panel proposed on the topic.